Rio Salado College President Kate Smith has been elected to the board of the American Council on Education (ACE). Her term begins Oct. 1, 2026, and runs through 2029.
The American Council on Education (ACE) is a national membership organization that brings together colleges, universities, and higher education organizations to address shared challenges and shape the future of postsecondary education.
Representing nearly 1,600 institutions across the U.S. and abroad, ACE advocates for policies and initiatives that support student success, institutional leadership, and educational access.
“I am honored to serve on the ACE board, an organization with a deep history of education advocacy.” Smith said. “I look forward to learning from and working with some of the great leaders in higher education today as we navigate the rapidly changing future of the workforce and prepare students to meet those needs.”
Through partnerships, research, and collaboration, ACE works to strengthen higher education’s role in preparing students for in-demand careers, supporting communities, and building a more resilient society.
In 2025, ACE awarded Rio Salado College with the ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation recognizing institutions that have “implemented bold and innovative strategies to address higher education challenges and create lasting change.”
Smith was named president of Rio Salado College in 2021, following a term as interim president that began in 2018. She holds a doctorate degree in community college leadership from Ferris State University, a master’s degree in mathematical education from the University of Rochester, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and German from William Smith College and was a 2020-21 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow.
In addition to her role on the ACE board, Smith serves on the vice Presidents Forum Governing Board (vice chair), the PHX East Valley Partnership Board of Directors; the the Maricopa County Community College District Foundation and other community and educational boards and committees.